Well pumping device



Nov. 23, 194'3. G. w.' MILLER ETAL WELL' PUMPING DEVICE Filed March 1,1941 2 Sheets-Sheet l Nov. 23, 1943.v G. w. MILLER ET AL 2,334,943

WELL PUMPING DEVICE Fi1ed March 1, 1941 2 sheets-sheet 2 43 IMI ATToeNEYPatented Nov. 23, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WELL PUMPING DEVICEGeorge W. Miller and William L. Kimsey, Sapulpa, Okla.

Application March 1, 1941, Serial No. 381,346

(Cl. M SQS) 8 Claims.

This invention relates to well pumping devices and more particularly toa device of that character for connecting and disconnecting a wellpumping rod line with a power transmission mechanism in such a manner asto hook the rod line and well on and olf relative to the powerpredeterminedly; the principal object of the present invention being toprovide a convenient, relatively economical and highly efficient devicefor the noted purposes.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide for adjusting thedevice to hook-off the well at a predetermined iluid level in the welland to hook-on the well at predetermined time intervals; to provide forefliciently operating a number of Wells by a single power at the sametime; to prevent damage to wells and pumping equipment therefor; toprovide for varying the time interval for hooking-on the well; and toprovide improved elements and arrangements of them in a well pumpingdevice of this character.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the present invention, wehave provided improved details of structure, the preferred forms ofwhich are illustrated in the accompanying' drawings, wherein:

Fig. l is a side elevational View of a well pumping device embodying thepresent invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical cross section through a well pumpingdevice embodying this invention.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the well pumping device shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig- 4 is a longitudinal vertical sectional View similar to Fig. 2,showing the hook-on device being raised to operative position.

Fig. 5 is a detail vertical transverse section through the well pumpingdevice substantially on the line 5 5, Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5, substantially on the line 6 6, Fig.2.

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Figs. 5 and 6, substantially on the line 11, Fig, 2.

Fig. 8 is a detail perspective view of a modied form of mechanism forcausing the hookon device to be lifted to operative position at variabletime intervals.

Fig. 9 is a detail elevational view partly in vertical cross sectionshowing the latch mechamsm.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

l generally designates a well pumping device that preferably includes apost 2 which may, for convenience, take the form of a pipe sectionembedded and suitably anchored in the ground near a power transmissionmechanism, not shown. The post is preferably vertically arranged and isprovided with aligned slots 3 and 4l, the post preferably being bracedin a suitable manner.

5 designates a bar that is connected at one end, by a coupling l withand forms a section of a rod line 8 leading toA pumping devices in awell, not shown, the other end of the bar being provided with a clevisl2. The clevis is provided with a slot l5 to receive a hook I6, or thelike, that is connected with a suitable power transmission mechanism,not shown.

Mounted on the bar 5 between the post 2 and rod line is a weight il, orthe like, the weight being adjustable longitudinally on the bar, as bythe set screw i8, relative to a stop collar I9 xed to the bar 5 betweenthe post 2 and clevis l2, the stop collar having a depending foot memberE@ the inner face of which, relative to the post, forms a shoulder 2|.

22 designates a standard that is mounted on the post 2 by suitablefastening devices, preferably on the power side thereof in alignmentwith the slots 3 and 4 therein. The standard is provided with a closedyoke at its upper end, the spaced arms 23 of which have alignedapertures in which the ends of a bearing shaft 24 are arranged torotatably support a roller 25. The roller 25 provides a roller bearingsupport for the bar 5, when it is moved in one direction by the hook lu,upon actuation of the power, and in the other direction by the weight ofrods to pump the well.

On the power or lift stroke of the bar 5, i. e. to the left relative toFigs. l and 2, the rods are under tension and are maintained in thesame, substantially horizontal plane, as shown in Fig. 4.

On the drop stroke of the bar, i. e. to the right relative to Figsl and2, the rods are under tension until such time as the usual well pumpplunger hits liquid inthe well, at which time slack or a reduction inthe tension on the rods is produced in the rod line, due to the buoyanteffect of the liquid and, aided by the weight Il, the bar 5 pivots aboutthe roller 25 to lower the weighted portion thereof and raise vthe rearportion thereof, the boss I9 and foot member 20 consequently beinglifted relative to the weight l1.

When oil or other liquid in the well being pumped is reduced to arelatively low level, tension is applied to the rod line substantiallythroughout the length of its stroke, the result end. 66 of the guide 29.

of which is that the rod line is maintained in the same substantiallyhorizontal plane at all times, i. e., on both power and drop strokes.

Upon exhaustion of fluid from the well, severe Wear is applied topumping apparatus and the oil, for example, in the well is damaged.

It is, therefore, desirable to hook-off an exhausted well before damageoccurs.

Ordinarily, a single power is employed to pump a number of wells over arelatively large area. The Well pumpers attention may, and often is,required. at locations on a multiple well lease, for example, somedistance away from a particular exhausted well and it is, therefore,further, desirable that the exhausted, well be hooked-olf as and when itbecomes exhausted.

In effecting this desideratum., the standard 22 is provided with a guide29 extending laterally of the post 2 in parallel relationto the bar 5.In the angle between the standard proper and guide, an arcuately shapedblock-guide 30 is arranged and a guide slot 3l is longitudinallyarranged in the guide 29.

A slide-block 32, of less length than the slot 3l, is slidably mountedin the slot 3l, the slide- `block having laterally arranged arms 33 and`3, Fig.' '7, on its upper end slidably mounted on the u'pper'face of theguide 29. rlhe slide-block is normally maintained in retractedcondition, as shown in Fig. l, by a spring 35, one end of which issecured to the slide-block and the other end of which is mounted on theguide, as at 35;

38 and 39 designate pairs of links pivotally mounted at their lower endson the slide-block 32 and at their upper ends on a knock-off of hook-offblock l, as by pivot pins lil, the upper face of which block fill isgrooved, as'at 32, Fig. '7, to form a bearing seat for the bar 5.

A latching device i3 is mounted in a recess lili, Figs. 2 and 4, of theslide-block 32 as by pivoting an arm :i thereof on a pivot pin S6arranged transversely of the recess in the slideblock. The latchingdevice normally tends to rock forwardly, or to the right, Figs. l, 2 and4, and downwardly, and is controlled in its downward movement by a nose4l thereon which bears on the slide-block. The latch is controlled inits rearward movement by engagement with a lug 138 on the slide-block,as shown in Fig. 9. A

shoe 9 is mounted on the latching device, as by a fastening device 59,and projects upwardly therefrom` substantially into the path of theshoulder 2l of the foot member 2li on the stop collar i9 and bar 5.

` With the construction thus far described, it is apparent that a wellmay be hooked-oil when the fluid in the well has been reduced to a pointat which the sucker rods have too little to act upon and would otherwisebe doing useless work.

It is also desirable to hook-on the well at predetermined intervals andthe present invention provides for such an arrangement in the iollowingmanner:

The hook I6 is preferably pivotally mounted, at its outer end, on thepivot pin ESQ, which is supported at the inner end Bi of a supplementalbar 62 forming a section of the rod line and adapted for connection, asat 63 with the driving mechanism or power above mentioned. Thesupplemental bar 62 is reciprocably mountedin a slot 64, Fig. 2, formedin a vertically arranged bracket 65 that is mounted adjacent the outerThe supplemental bar B2 Vwhen not under tension also has frictionalbearing support on the convex surface 61 dening the bottom of a groove68 in a lever B9, the lower end of which is pivoted, as at l, betweenthe side walls il, Fig. 5, of the guide 23 in such a manner that thelever may pivot longitudinally in the aperture l2 of the guide in anoutward position on the guide relative to the bracket 65. A pawl E3 ispivoted at one end, as at 16, on the lower end of the lever 53, the pawlhaving a reduced finger portion 'l5 opposite its pivoted end that isengageable with the teeth i6 of a pinion Tl. The pinion is rotatablymounted on a shaft "i8 arranged transversely of the guide 29 andsupported in suitable bearings therein. As shown in Fig. 8, the pinionil may be provided with an extension 79 having grooves 8i! therein forreceiving teeth 3l to key the teeth to the extension. The teeth may, ifdesired, be secured to the extension by fastening devices l In thismanner,l the pawl 'l may move the pinion in response to reciprocation ofthe bar S2 yet the pinion il maybe reactive on the sprocket 83 only inresponse `to engagement of the Vteeth 8l of the pinion extension withthe teeth 82 on the sprocket. The pinion teeth 3l mesh with the teeth 82of a sprocket 33, that is rotatably mounted on a shaft 84 arrangedtransversely of the guide 29 in suitable bearings therein.

Y The sprocket-shaft 82%Y is provided with a cam 85 having a lobe 86that moves in response to rotation of the sprocket and engages portionsof a push bar 8l that acts on the hook I6. The

push bar 8l is pivoted, as at 88, at one end on a pivot pin arrangedtransversely of the guide 29, the push bar having depressions 89 andY9i),

inits lower face between which a lobe 9i is arranged. The outer end ofthe push bar is also provided with a tapered groove 92 to provide aguide by which the push bar is readily engageable with the hook I6 toguide it into hooking contact with the clevis l2 of the bar 5.

Resilient stop members @3 and 94 are mounted on the guide, as byfastening devices 95 and 96, in the path of the pinion and sprocketrespectively, and in engagement with the teeth thereof for preventingreverse movements of the pinion and sprocket and thus providing againstslippage as Well as providing for accurate incremental movement of thepush bar.

The operation of a well pumping device constructed as described is asfollows:

Assuming the well to have accumulated liquid therein and the bar 5 to behooked onto the power by the hook I6, the power is energized and impartsa power stroke (to the left, Figs. 1 and 2) to the rod line 3 tomaintain the same in taut, tense and plane condition. The foot-member2i! on the bar 6 strikes the shoe 49 on the slide-block latching device,butY passes over the same due to pivotal movement of the latch, as shownin Fig. 9.

On the down stroke (to the right, Figs. 1 and 2) the well pump plungerstrikes liquid in the well, normally before the drop stroke iscompleted, 'and due to buoyant effect of theliquid produces slack orreduction in the tension of the rod line which, aided by the weight ilon the bar, effects a sag or deflection in the rod line and lifts orkicks the foot-member 22 over latch shoe it on the drop stroke.

'As the well is exhausted of liquid, the drop stroke approachescompletion before the kick is Vapplied to the foot-memberand, dependingsomewhatuupon the position of the weight I1, the foot-member contactstheV latch shoe and moves the slide-block forwardly against tension ofthe spring 35. The tension on the rods during the power stroke remainssubstantially the same during the pump operation, andthe variation inthe tension on the down stroke is the controlling factor in operatingthe hook-off device.

As the slide-block moves forwardly, the knockoff block 40 rides up thearcuate face of the guide 30 into supporting relation to the bar 5 andin line with the collar I9 on the bar, thus halting movement of the rodline in the direction of the well. The power continues, however, andcontinued movement of the hook I6 in the direction of the well causesthe hook to drop, by gravity, through the slot in the clevis, tohook-olf the Well, yet allowing continue pumping of other wells. Thehook-oir can only be effected when the motion of the bar has stopped asthe weight or tension on the rods is always sufficient to move said rodsfaster on the down stroke than the pumping power operates.

When it is desired to again hook-on the well, the power is againactuated and when the hook I6 is positioned below the clevis slot it maybe moved upwardly into engagement with the clevis to again hook-on thewell.

When the hook I6 has been hooked-off relative to the clevis I2, thetension is removed from the bar B2 allowing it to drop into engagementwith the lever 69 and the bar, still being connected with the power,reciprocates in the slot 64 of the bracket 65 and pivotally moves thelever 69 through frictional contact of the bar 62 with the convexsurface 68 of the lever. Pivotal movement of the lever 69 reciprocatesthe pawl 'I3 to rotate the pinion 'I'I and consequently, intermittentlyadvances the sprocket 82. The cam 85 on the sprocket also rotates tocause the lobe 86 of the cam to lift the push bar 81 from the loweredposition, as shown in Fig. 2, upwardly, rst by contact with the push barin the recess 89, to its top position, as shown in Fig. 4, by contact ofthe lobe of the cam with the lobe SI of the push bar. When the hook I6has been raised to the position shown on Fig. 4, continued reciprocationof the bar 62 causes engagement of the hook with the clevis and the wellis again hooked-on. The effect of the tension on the rod line then liftsthe bar 62 from engagement with the lever 69 and the hook liftingdevice, cam and pinions remain idle until the hook-off mechanism isagain actuated.

With this structure, it is possible to delay hooking-on of the well forany desired time period.

The operation of the apparatus with the modication just above noted issubstantially similar to that first described.

It is apparent, therefore, that a, convenient, relatively economical andhighly efficient well pumping apparatus is provided by the presentinvention by which wells may be hooked on and off relative to a power.

What we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a device of the character described, a support, a rod linereciprocably mounted on the support, said rod line consisting of twosections comprising a pumping section adapted for connection to a wellpumping mechanism and a power section adapted for connection to a powertransmission mechanism, a hook pivotally connected to one of thesections and adapted for connecting engagement with the other section, a

boss on the pumping section of the rod line, a guide on the support, ablock slidably mounted on the guide engageable with the support and bossto stop movement of the pumping section of the rod line in one directionand to effect disengagement of the hook, a lever pivotally mounted onthe guide and adapted for frictional engagement with the power sectionof the rod line, said frictonal engagement oscillating the lever whenthe hook is in disengaged condition, a push bar pivotally mounted on theguide and engageable with said hook, and means interposed between thepush bar and the lever operable responsive to oscillation of said leverfor moving said push bar to effect interconnection of the rod linesections by said hook.

2. In a device of the character described, a support, a rod linereciprocably mounted on the support and having separable portionsadapted for engagement with a well pumping mechanism and powertransmission mechanism respectively, a hook mounted on one portion ofthe rod line and separable from the other portion thereof, a boss on therod line having a foot member, a guide on the support, a block slidablymounted on the guide and engageable with the support, a latch on theblock engageable with the foot member to move the block into engagementwith the support for stopping movement in one direction ofthe portion ofthe rod line having engagement with the well pumping mechanism andeffecting disengagement of the hook, means on the guide for guiding theblock upwardly into the path of the boss, a lever pivotally mounted onthe guide frictionally engageable with and operable by the portion ofsaid rod line having engagement with the power transmission mechanismwhen the hook is in disengaged condition, a pinion gear, meansengageable with the pinion gear and operable by said lever in responseto oscillation thereof, a sprocket engaged with and movable by saidpinion gear, a cam on said sprocket, and a push bar pivotally mounted onsaid guide and engageable by said cam for pivoting the same, said pushbar being engageable with said hook to effect engagement thereof withthe other portion of the rod line.

3. In a device of the character described, a support, a separable rodline reoiprocably mounted on the support and having portions adapted forengagement with a well pumping mechanism and power transmissionmechanism respectively, a hook mounted on one portion of the rod lineand separable from the other portion thereof, a boss on the rod linehaving a foot member, a guide on the support, a block slidably mountedon the guide and engageable with the support, a latch on the blockengageable with the foot member to move the block into engagement withthe support for stopping movement in one direction of the portion of therod line having engagement with the well pumping mechanism and effectingdisengagement of the hook, means on the guide for guiding the blockupwardly into the path of the boss, a lever pivotally mounted on theguide and frictionally engageable and operable by the portion of saidrod line having engagement with the power transmission mechanism whenthe hook is in disengaged condition, a pinion gear, means engageablewith the pinion gear for imparting rotary motion thereto and operable bysaid lever in response to oscillation thereof, a sprocket engaged withand movable by said pinion gear, a cam on said sprocket, a push barpivotally mounted on said guide and engageable by said cam for pivotingthe same, said push bar. being engageable with said hook to effectengagement thereof with the other portion of the rod line, and means forretaining said pinion gear and sprocket in stationary condition when notbeing rotated by the rotation imparting means.

4. In a device of the character described, a support, a separable rodline reciprocably mounted on the support and having portions adapted forengagement with a well pumping mechanism and power transmissionmechanism respectively, a hook mounted on one portion of the rod lineand separable from the other portion thereof, a boss on the rod linehaving a foot member, a guide on the support, a block slidably mountedon the guide and engageable with the support, a latch on the blockengageable with the foot member to move the block into engagement withthe support for stopping movement in one direction of the portion of therod line having engagement with the well pumping mechanism and effectingdisengagement of the hook, means on the guide for guiding the blockupwardly into the path of the boss, a lever pivotally mounted on theguide frictionally engageable and operable by the portion of said rodline having engagement with the power transmission mechanism when thehook is in disengaged condition, a pinion gear, a pawl engageable withsaid piniony gear for imparting rotary motion thereto and operable bysaid lever in response to osciilation thereof, a sprocket, means on saidpinion gear for intermittently moving said sprocket, a cam on saidsprocket, and means operable by said cam and engageable with said hookto eiect engagement thereof with the other portion of the rod line.

5. In a device of the character described, a separable rod line, meansengageable with the ends of the rod line for connecting said ends with apower mechanism and a driven apparatus respectively for reciprocatingsaid rod line and applying pulling force thereto, said driven apparatusimparting a pulling force which changes at a variable point of thestroke, hook means for coupling the separate portions of the rod line,means actuated by the reciprocable rod line when a change in pull on therod line imparted by the drivenv apparatus does not occur at apredetermined point for effecting uncoupling of the hook means from oneportion of the rod line, and means actuated by the rod line portionhaving connection with the power mechanism for effecting recoupling ofthe hook means and the rod line portion after a predetermined timeinterval whereby the duration of the operation of the driven apparatusis controlled by the variationV in the point of change in the pullprovided by said driven apparatus.

6. In a device of the character described, a driven rod line, meansengageable with one end of the rod line for connecting said end with aWell pumping. mechanism, means supporting the rod line whereby weight ofthe rod line causes deection thereof, said deiiection of the rod varyingwith the pulling force acting on the rod line,

said well pumping mechanism imparting a pulling force to the rod whichchanges at a Variable point of the stroke, a supplemental bar adaptedfor engagement with a power means and continuous reciprocation thereby,a hook pivotally mounted on the end of the supplemental bar and adaptedto be coupled with the driven rod line for imparting reciprocationthereto, means actuated by the driven rod line when the change in pullon said rod line imparted by the well pumping mechanism does not occurat a predetermined point in the stroke for effecting uncoupling of thehook from said driven rod line, a cam, oscillatable means on the supporthaving frictional engagement with the supplemental bar while the hookand driven rod line are uncoupled, means operated by the oscillation ofthe oscillatable means for rotating the cam, and means actuated by thecam for raising the hook and recoupling same with the driven rod line.

'7. In a device of the character described, a support, meansreciprocably mounted on the support for transmitting reciprocal motionfrom a driving mechanism to a driven mechanism, said driven mechanismproviding a pull on the reciprocable means, said pull changing at avariable point in the reciprocation of the reciprocable means, meansconnecting the reciprocable means to one of the mechanisms, means on thereciprocable means engageable with the other of said mechanisms, meansactuated by the reciprocable means when the change in pull on thereciprocable means does not occur at a predetermined point for effectingdisengagement of said Connecting means from the mechanism with which itis adapted to be connected, and means for eiecting reengagement of saidconnecting means connected with the other of said mechanisms after apredetermined time interval.

S. In an apparatus of the character described, a support, a rod linereciprocably mounted on the support adapted for engagement with a drivenmechanism, said driven mechanism providing a pull on the rod line, saidpull changing at a variable point in the reciprocation of the rod line,a supplemental bar adapted for engagement with a driving mechanism,means including a hook pivotally mounted on the supplemental bar forcoupling the supplemental bar and the rod line, means actuated by therod line when the change in pull on the rod line does not occur at apredetermined point for effecting uncouplingV of said bar and rod line,means for raising the hook, means frictionally engageable with thesupplemental bar and responsive to reciprocation thereof for actuatingsaid hook raising means to effect recoupling of said hook with the rodline at predetermined intervals, and means for varying the time intervalbetween, uncoupling and recoupling of said hooks with said rod line.

GEORGE W, MILLER, WILLIAM L. KIMsEY.

